Hunters during the final day of Pennsylvania’s statewide bear season harvested 168 bears, raising the 2017 statewide season harvest to 1,796 – an about 30 percent decrease compared to the 2,579 bears taken during the four days of the statewide season in 2016.

Extensive rain on the season’s opening day, Nov. 18, led to the harvest decline.

Archery and other early-bear season harvest data is not included in this report. Comprehensive bear harvest totals that include bears taken during the early and extended seasons will be released in the coming months.

During the statewide season, bears were harvested in 54 counties.

The top 10 bears processed at check stations were either estimated or confirmed to have live weights of 576 pounds or more.

Two bears over 500 pounds were taken on the season’s final day. A male estimated at 581 pounds was taken in Tuscarora Township, Perry County, by Allen W. Esh, of Millerstown, Pa. Meanwhile, a male estimated at 568 pounds was taken in Fox Township, Elk County, by Edward J. Bellotti, of Kersey, Pa.

The state’s heaviest bear in the statewide season – a male estimated at 700 pounds – was taken in Oil Creek Township, Venango County, by Chad A. Wagner, of Titusville, Pa. He took it with a rifle at about 8 a.m. on Nov. 18, the season’s opening day.

Other large bears taken over the four-day season – all taken with a rifle – include: a 691-pound male taken Nov. 21 in Cherry Grove Township, Warren County, by James M. Langdon, of Wattsburg, Pa.; a 648-pound male taken Nov. 18 in Dreher Township, Wayne County, by Joseph D. Simon, of Newfoundland, Pa.; a 609-pound male taken Nov. 18 in Abbott Township, Potter County, by Michael R. Neimeyer, of Spring City, Pa.; a 601-pound male taken Nov. 20 in Valley Township, Armstrong County, by Bo J. Bowser, of Kittanning; a 595-pound male taken Nov. 18 in St. Marys Township, Elk County, by Stephanie A. Siford, of North East, Pa.; a 595-pound male taken Nov. 18 in Charleston Township, Tioga County, by Zachery L. Martin, of Wellsboro, Pa.; a 586-pound male taken Nov. 18 in Oil Creek Township, Crawford County, by Brian K. Baker, Titusville, Pa.; a 576-pound male taken Nov. 18 in Homer Township, Potter County, by Kirby R. Kornhaus, of Jonestown, Pa.; a 569-pound male taken Nov. 21 in Liberty Township, Centre County, by Conner L. Toner, of Beech Creek, Pa.; a 562-pound male taken Nov. 20 in Beech Creek Township, Clinton County, by William J. Miller, of Beech Creek, Pa.; a 561-pound male taken Nov. 20 in Fox Township, Sullivan County, by Tyler J. Bagley, Of Montgomery, Pa; a 561-pound male taken in Ross Township, Luzerne County, by Richard B. Kollar, of Shickshinny, Pa.

NO-COST 1,500-ACRE ACQUISITION TO OFFSET IMPACTS ON BATS
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today approved the no-cost acquisition of 1,536 acres adjoining or near State Game Lands 302 in Richhill Township, Greene County.

The land is being offered by Consol Pennsylvania Coal Co. LLC and partners and presented through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as mitigation requirements for impacts on wildlife, specifically the federal- and state-endangered Indiana bat and the federal-endangered northern long-eared bat

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave preliminary approval to a host of improvements that would enhance public access to state game lands by persons with mobility challenges.

Central to the proposal is the proposed creation of the Disabled Person Access Permit, which would allow mobility-challenged game-lands users to use ATVs, golf carts and other mobility devices on designated routes on game lands.

This permit would be free, and separate from the existing permit that allows disabled persons to hunt from motorized vehicles and ATVs. A wider variety of applicants might qualify for the new permit.

Manual or electric wheelchair users on game lands would not need a Disabled Person Access Permit.

The proposal will be brought back to the January meeting for a final vote.

FOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES APPROVED FOR HUNTING
The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners today gave final approval to a measure that makes four additional electronic devices lawful to use while hunting.

Hunting while using the newly approved devices will not be legal until the changes are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, in approximately six to eight weeks. Once that happens, hunters will be able to use electronic decoys in hunting waterfowl; electronic dove decoys used solely for hunting doves; electronically heated scent or lure dispensers; and electronic devices that distribute ozone gas for scent-control purposes.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) affects the brain and nervous system of infected cervids (deer, elk and moose) eventually resulting in death.

Current Status:

Following the detection of CWD in both captive and free-ranging deer in Pennsylvania, an executive order (PDF) was issued by the Game Commission to establish Disease Management Areas (DMAs). Within DMAs, rehabilitation of cervids (deer, elk and moose); the use or possession of cervid urine-based attractants in an outdoor setting; the removal of high-risk cervid parts; and the feeding of wild, free-ranging cervids are prohibited. Increased testing continues in these areas to determine the distribution of the disease. Newly confirmed cases alter the boundaries of DMAs as the Game Commission continues to manage the disease and minimize its effect on free ranging cervids.

In Pennsylvania, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been detected in these Disease Management Areas (DMAs): DMA 1 on a captive deer farm in Adams County during 2012 (DMA 1 has since been eliminated); DMA 2 in multiple free-ranging deer in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, and Fulton counties from 2012 -2017, and captive deer farms in Bedford, Franklin, and Fulton counties during 2017; DMA 3 in two captive deer farms in Jefferson County during 2014 and a free-ranging deer in Clearfield County during 2017. In addition, CWD has been detected in wild or captive deer and/or elk in many other states and provinces.

Rules and regulations regarding CWD in Pennsylvania are found in the Game Commission executive order (PDF) and Title 58 regulations.

Thursday, Oct. 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Mahaffey Fire Hall, 958 Market St., sponsored by state Reps. Matt Gabler, Thomas Sankey and Cris Dush.​ ​Come anytime during the event and learn at your own pace; informational handouts and staff members will be available throughout the evening.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission has scheduled a series of public meetings to ensure Pennsylvanians remain informed about chronic wasting disease, and how this threat to the state’s deer and deer hunting impacts their lives.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) first was detected in Pennsylvania at a captive deer farm in Adams County in 2012, and has since been detected at an increasing rate in captive and free-ranging deer.

CWD always is fatal to the deer and elk it infects. As additional CWD-positive deer are detected in new areas, more and more Pennsylvanians must learn and comply with regulations geared to slow the disease’s spread.

The public meetings provide individuals an opportunity to ask questions and obtain detailed explanations about what they can do to help with efforts to curtail CWD.

A plethora of information about the disease, including maps of the Disease Management Areas within which special rules apply regarding the hunting and feeding of deer, can be found on the website.

An additional 766 acres of Pennsylvania elk habitat is now permanently protected and opened to public access thanks to efforts by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and a generous donor.

“This would not have happened without landowners who care about Pennsylvania and both understand and appreciate the crucial wildlife values of this area,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer.

Located in Centre County, the project extends the western unit of State Game Lands 100 to the north along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. By doing so, it expands that unit to 5,272 acres in size and improves access to it while expanding the overall size of the two State Game Lands 100 units to a combined 21,069 acres.

“This critical acquisition to the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s State Game Land system will not only enhance the agency’s ability to better manage the southern dispersal of its elk herd, but it will benefit all Pennsylvanians by adding an additional 766 acres,” said Bryan Burhans, PGC executive director. “We are grateful for the outstanding partnership between RMEF and the Game Commission.”

The property’s habitat includes oak and pine woodlands, meadows, grassland and key riparian habitat along 1.24 miles of the river. It is home to elk, whitetail deer, black bears, turkey, grouse and other bird and animal life.

“We are especially grateful for our long-standing partners at the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Their dedication and determination made this project possible,” added Henning.

Since 1991, RMEF and its partners completed 424 conservation and hunting heritage outreach projects in Pennsylvania with a combined value of more than $24.9 million. These projects conserved or enhanced 26,874 acres of habitat and opened or secured public access to 9,312 acres.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:

Founded over 30 years ago, fueled by hunters and a membership of more than 222,000 strong, RMEF has conserved more than 7.1 million acres for elk and other wildlife. RMEF also works to open and improve public access, fund and advocate for science-based resource management, and ensure the future of America’s hunting heritage. Discover why “Hunting Is Conservation™” at www.rmef.org, www.elknetwork.com or 800-CALL ELK.

The investigation into the origin of two ear-tagged deer euthanized recently in Elk County has resulted in a conviction.

A 56-year-old Ridgway man pleaded guilty Aug. 16 to two counts of disturbing wildlife after reporting he’d handled the deer, saying both were wild and he tagged them in separate years while they were fawns. Fines and costs totaled $2,120.

It is unlawful in Pennsylvania to pick up, take into captivity or otherwise disturb wildlife, or release any deer into the wild. Doing so can result in stiff penalties, including imprisonment.

The ear-tagged deer were euthanized July 26 in Ridgway Township, Elk County. While the Game Commission uses ear tags in its research, the agency’s tags differ in appearance from the tags commonly used on deer farms. Because of the risk escaped or released captive deer or elk could spread chronic wasting disease (CWD) to areas where the disease has not been detected in the wild, Game Commission protocol authorizes wildlife conservation officers to shoot free-ranging ear-tagged deer they encounter.

Both deer euthanized July 26 tested negative for CWD. The results from genetic tests performed to learn more about the deer’s bloodlines are pending.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Game Commission’s Northcentral Region Office at 570-398-4744, or 570-398-4745. To report ear-tagged deer encountered in the wild, please call the Game Commission region office serving the area the deer were seen.

Two lingering vacancies on the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners have been filled by Michael Mitrick, of York, and Stanley Knick Jr., of Dupont.

Mitrick was selected from Region 6, which includes Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry, Snyder and York counties. This position was left vacant when former Game Commissioner Ronald Weaner’s term expired.

Knick was selected from Region 7, which includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties. This position was left vacant when former Game Commissioner Jay Delaney’s term expired.

Commissioners are selected from eight geographic areas of the Commonwealth to ensure uniform representation throughout Pennsylvania. Once appointed, however, commissioners represent all Pennsylvanians, not just those from their region.

Mitrick and Knick each will serve four-year terms on the Board of Game Commissioners.